Below is an adult American Golden Plover I saw in Lewis in early September last year. Even at that stage, it retained a great deal more of its breeding plumage than the Irish bird shows. On the other hand, I saw around 50 European Golden Plovers on Sunday and most had already lost their black underparts. The Irish bird seems to have retained its summer head pattern to some extent, which is much more contrasting and AGP like. But I can't see this as anything other than a fairly normal moulting adult European Golden Plover.
Hi Andrew.
Can we really use the state of the birds moult from summer to winter plumage reliably? I mean, they're all going to be different; some with near summer plumage, some with near winter, and some with a mix. Also, aren't induvidual birds going to vary?
Also, would a EGP ever have this much black and this little gold in the plumage?
Jason
OK. Shant take this any further; you seem to know what your talking about, lol! I've only seen one AGP, and was with a very good birder so I think I learned alot. However, theres still much more to understand, as this shows. Also, I reckon I've forgotten most of what he told me!
Jason
thank you all very much for your thoughts. i have a few other very bad shots i can post if you wish - on one of them a wing is raised and it does appear to be white under there. ill let you know what other people think round here if they see it. thanks again
jamie